Having strong abs helps you look great and feel great. Having a toned stomach is one of the top things people look for when they are considering getting into shape. When you have flat, toned abs it shows that your core strength is strong and that you can balance yourself without the use of external support.
In this article, we will talk about the best ways to build your six-pack, including exercises that target both the lower and upper ab muscles. If you want a toned midsection then it’s time to start exercises for abs.
The fundamental strength of your core is so important to become physically fit as well as mentally fit as well. You see, having a strong core will help with balance and coordination, which will in turn help you perform everyday activities easier and with more ease.
What is the core?
The core is the lower portion of the abdomen and includes the muscles around the pelvic area, the sides, and the back of the abdomen, as well as the lower back.
The core is responsible for many important things like balance, movement, posture, and breathing. When the core is strong, it helps you to improve your performance in sports like running, basketball, and dancing. When the core is strong, you can also reduce the risk of back pain and improve your digestion.
The muscles of the core consist of the muscles of the abdomen, back, sides, and pelvic areas. The muscles in the core are responsible for movement, balance, and posture. When you want to get fit, you want to focus on building up the core because it’s such a big part of the body.
Having a strong core will increase your stability and stamina, which means you can perform everyday activities like running, jumping, and lifting weights with ease. With a strong core, you’ll have less back pain and be more efficient at digesting your food.
Best workout exercises for abs
Exercises that target the lower abs include planks and side planks. Planks are an excellent exercise for improving your ab strength and balance. Planks are a static exercise that requires you to hold your body in a straight line from head to toe for as long as you can.
The longer you can hold a plank position, the stronger your core muscles become. Another excellent exercise for your lower abs is side planks.
Side planks are done in a kneeling position with your hands on the floor beside your hips. Unlike a standard plank where you straighten arms and legs, side planks require you to bend at the waist and keep your legs straight. This exercise will work your lower abs and core muscles.
Sit-ups
Sit-ups are a great exercise for working your abs. The key to this exercise is to lie face down with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Your arms should be at your side with your fingers pointing towards your head. This position targets your upper abs.
When you want to get the most out of this exercise you want to start with your legs together and your arms outstretched. Then you want to slowly move your legs towards your chest until your feet are touching your head. You can alternate between legs and arms to work your abs evenly.
Crunch
Crunches are another great exercise for the lower abs. This exercise involves lying face down with your hands flat on the floor beside your hips. Your knees should be bent and your feet flat on the floor. Now you want to lift your head, shoulders, and butt off the floor while squeezing your abs.
This targets your lower abs. As you lift up and down, you want to make sure your shoulder blades don’t come off your back because this will put your low back at risk for injury. If you don’t feel comfortable doing crunches on the floor, you can try a stability ball instead.
Plank
Like the side plank, the plank is another exercise that uses your core muscles to challenge their strength. Planks are done on your hands and toes like a push-up position. This time though you’re on your forearms instead of your palms. Planks target your core muscles in a different way than a push-up does.
Planks are a great exercise to include in your routine because they can be done almost anywhere. If you want to add an extra challenge to your routine, you can try doing plank challenges like the plank walk, plank obstacle course, plank burpee, and plank push-up.
Side plank twist-up (Supported side bend)
Side planks are great exercises for abs. The side plank twist-up is a supported version of the side plank where you keep your back towards the floor with one hand on the floor and the other on the wall.
Now rotate your body to the side while still keeping your back on the floor. This twist-up will work your obliques. The obliques are the muscles on the sides of your abdomen and are often ignored when people work on their abs.
Hanging knee tuck (Variant)
Hanging knee tucks are a variation on the side plank that also works your abs. To perform this exercise, you will need a rope and a low bar. The rope can be tied to a low bar or you can use a tree branch.
To do the hanging knee tuck, you will start in a side plank position with your knees bent and your feet off the ground straight underneath you. Your back should be on the floor and your hands are on the rope. Then you will slowly pull yourself up towards your head until your elbows are at a 90-degree angle.
Summary
The best workout exercises for abs can be challenging to master, but with consistency, you will see results. Pick a few of the best workout exercises for abs and incorporate them into your routine to build a strong core.
If you are looking for the best training program for your core, aim to do between 5 and 15 exercises per week. With consistent training, you can build your core strength and improve your health for years to come.
